27 May 2014

What started as a hobby for Mr Moesi Bafana now earns him a leaving. 



The 37-year-old man, who hails from Mosu, is a proud owner of a small business where he repairs shoes and ladies’ handbags. 



Mr Bafana said he loves his work and would not trade it for anything and gives credit to his older brother, Mr Gabasiane Bafana, who initially started the business in the year 2000. 



The older brother operated the business from their family home in Francistown and the younger Moesi would watch his brother doing the work. 



He said when he first joined his brother in the work, it was just as a way of keeping himself busy, but later on realised that what he presumed as a hobby was actually what he could do to earn a living.



In 2003, Moesi decided to take the business to the people and set up his work area in the main mall in Francistown, where there is a lot of movement.  The move did not mean he was separating with the elder brother but only meant that the business was expanding to another area. 



Mr Bafana repairs anything that has to do with shoes and is able to do anything from fixing soles, putting new ones and renewing the shoes. 

 He also said that women are his biggest customers as he fixes many of their handbags, putting new zippers and sewing them where necessary.



The enterprising man said he takes his business seriously as it earns him a living and he is usually at his spot around seven o’ clock in the morning because he does not want some of his customers to miss him.

“I get there latest around seven o’ clock in the morning because sometimes I have customers who leave their shoes or bags for me to fix as they go to work, and they expect to find them fixed when they knock off from work,” Mr Bafana said.



He explained that even though that is the case, he has a challenge of meeting the customers’ demands.

Mr Bafana wishes he had the appropriate machinery that would allow him to work faster. 



“My brother and I are currently looking for a place where we can operate our business.

Should we find one that is when we can plan on buying the relevant machines,” he said.



His wish also is to see his business grow and he has identified a niche in the market and his purpose is solely to fulfil it. 



Mr Bafana said he is happy with what he does and trusts that his business will keep growing. 



Although he is aware of government programmes, where one can seek financial aid to improve their business, he said he does not want to rely on government.



“I know about those who government programmes for poverty alleviation, including financial assistance from CEDA but I would rather use what I have for now and maybe at a later stage when the business expands, that is when I could consider those programmes,” he said.



He said with a high rate of unemployment that is evident in this country, people should look beyond landing a job somewhere and earning a salary. ENDS